Tuesday, May 16, 2006

The CDC's solution to women's reproductive health problems--welcome to the 19th Century

Ann Friedman has a post at MoJo Blog about a report in the Washington Post's report of the CDC's request that all women treat themselves as "pre-pregnant," i.e., that women take folic acid (why, if they are not deficient?), refrain from smoking, maintain a healthy weight, and keep chronic health conditions under control. Friedman is justifiably troubled by the report, not only because of its all-women-as-incubators implications, but because nowhere does the report mention birth control.

Friedman mentions that though "the first recommendation is that 'each woman, man and couple should be encouraged to have a reproductive life plan,' it never calls on the government to encourage contraceptive use."

She goes on to say:

The report’s authors do acknowledge that many women lack access to adequate reproductive health care, but they tell women to “manage risk factors" rather than admonish government officials who have cut funding for these programs.

Why am I not surprised? Women's reproductive health care has always been a low priority in this country, and now--with the religious right running the show in the federal government--the very idea of encouraging the use of birth control is offensive. Because we cannot successfully control women if women are allowed to control their own lives and bodies.